Sunday, December 29, 2013

77. Museu Nacional dos Coches

Today I head to the National Coach Museum in Belem - a district a short distance from the centre of Lisbon - to view the royal transport from the 17th - 18th and 19th centuries.

Created
through the efforts of Queen Amélia of Orleans and Bragança, wife of King
Carlos I, the Royal Coach Museum, as it was then named, was inaugurated on May
23, 1905.

Ceremonial vehicle used in 1790 by Queen Maria I

Ceremonial vehicle used by the cardinals of Lisbon - late 1700s

The site chosen for the museum was the Royal Riding Arena in Belém where the
queen brought together the old aristocratic vehicles of the Portuguese Royal
House along with their respective accessories.

Ceremonial vehicle used in 1777 for the marriage of Princess Maria Francisca

Ceremonial vehicle used by King Pedro II during late 1600s

detail ...

Spanish Ceremonial vehicle belonging to Queen Mariana during 1790

interior detail ...

detail ...

rear panel detail ...

front detail ...

In the original collection were 29 vehicles, dress uniforms, harnesses and
cavalry accessories used by the Royal Family. After the establishment of the
Republic in 1910, the Museum was renamed the National Coach Museum and its
collection was increased with other vehicles belonging to the Crown, the
Patriarchate of Lisbon and some aristocratic houses.

Ceremonial vehicle used by King Joao V during early 1800s

Triumphal vehicle used by Pope Clement XI in 1716

Interior detail ...

interior detail ...

rear detail ...

front detail ...

rear wheel detail ...

Today the museum has a collection that is considered unique in the world
because of the artistic variety of the magnificent ceremonial vehicles from the
17th, 18th and 19th centuries, as well as the number of examples.

Travel vehicle used by Princes Maria Barbara during early 1700s

"Coupe" type ceremonial vehicle used by 3 bastard children of King Joao V in early 1700s

Ceremonial vehicle used by King Joao VI during early 1800s

Used by Queen Elizabeth II during her visit to Lisbon in 1957

detail ...

Promenade vehicle used by Royal Family in their gardens late 1700s

The oldest coach in the collection ...

Royal travel vehicle used during early 1600s

interior detail - showing royal toilet ...

interior detail ...

My next posting takes us to a Moorish castle in the hills at Sintra … quite a contrast to the extravagant palaces here in Lisbon …